Developing Climate Data for Egyptian Heritage Sites in the Theban Necropolis

Abstract

To develop heritage site preservation strategies, site-specific climate data is required, especially when those sites are made from natural materials. This study focuses on Egyptian archaeological case study locations in the Theban Necropolis, a cliff above tomb KV42 and the interior of tomb TT95, to develop methodologies for improving climate analysis (1984 to 2024) that can be used to enhance localized climate data. Using a combination of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather station data, climatological techniques, and geographic information system (GIS)-based spatial interpolation, this research analyzes temperature and relative humidity variability for the majority of the populated area in Egypt. For comparison, a more detailed analysis is performed with local weather information at the two case study locations. By focusing on the relationship between regional climate trends and local climate measurements at archaeological sites, this project contributes to the broader efforts in climate-informed heritage preservation. A significant portion of this project addresses the challenges of relying on station data collected near or within archaeological sites, including data sparsity, instrument maintenance, and remote accessibility. The results indicate that much of Egypt is undergoing a warming and decreasing relative humidity trend, with average temperature increases (0.35°C/decade) exceeding the global average (0.20°C/decade). These climatic shifts can hasten rock degradation, potentially resulting in irreversible damage. The spatial interpolation maps developed in this research effectively capture these trends, as demonstrated by the similarity between the interpolated data and the observations at Luxor airport and KV42. The work done in this project can be adapted to other heritage sites globally, offering a source of supplemental data that can be used by researchers seeking to incorporate climate data into their preservation efforts.